Poetry in the face of brutality. The Willi Hagen Stone stands as a stark reminder of a dark chapter in Hamburg’s history. This memorial commemorates Wilhelm Willi Hagen. He was a victim of Nazi persecution.
Willi Hagen was born in Altona on November 3, 1899. He trained as a blacksmith. He worked various jobs. Like many during the economic crisis, Hagen became politically active. He joined a circle of politically interested workers in Lurup.
Lurup was known as “Little Moscow” for its leftist leanings. Hagen supported the KPD. He produced leaflets. He resisted the growing Nazi influence. The Hagen family lived in a classicist building on Luruper Hauptstrasse. Many of their friends lived nearby. They resided in settlements built from fish crates.
The political climate worsened. Nazis sought to control “red Lurup”. They used violence and offered privileges to defectors. Willi Hagen was arrested on February 21, 1935. He was accused of high treason. The charges stemmed from his KPD activities.
He was imprisoned in KZ Fuhlsbüttel. The conditions were brutal. Torture and mistreatment were common. Despite the suffering, Hagen remained defiant. Fellow inmate Ernst Hadler testified to Hagen’s spirit. He recited poems to fellow prisoners. These verses offered hope. They also showed resistance.
One such poem spoke of chains. It also mentioned revenge against the fascists. Hagen’s words resonated deeply with his fellow prisoners. Tetje Lotz, another inmate, remembered Hagen’s sensitivity. He also recalled his beautiful paper cuttings and poems. Hagen’s poems often described life in the camp.
The poem seemed to foretell his fate. Willi Hagen was murdered. The official version claimed suicide. But fellow prisoners doubted this account. Ernst Hadler dismissed the idea of suicide. He said Hagen looked forward to liberation. Ferdinand Lorenz agreed. He stated that a man like Hagen would never take his own life. Walter Reimann recalled Hagen mentioning writing a poem against Hitler shortly before his death.
International newspapers reported on human rights violations. They also covered murders at Fuhlsbüttel. An article in the “Basler Arbeiterzeitung” mentioned Hagen’s death. It stated he died from mistreatment. Despite the evidence, authorities maintained the suicide story.
The Geheime Staatspolizei investigated. They claimed Hagen admitted to communist activities. They alleged he expressed suicidal intentions. They said his solitary confinement was for his own protection. The Lagerkommandant reported Hagen’s death by hanging. An autopsy confirmed this.
His wife Henny was informed of his death. She was told to collect his ashes. She believed her husband was murdered. She knew he had no reason to end his life.
After years of effort, Hagen’s family received compensation in 1959. In the 1970s, a citizens’ initiative led to this memorial. The Willi Hagen Stone stands opposite his last residence. It serves as a reminder of his courage. It also honors his resistance against oppression.
So remember Willi Hagen. Remember his words. Remember his fight for freedom and justice. This stone stands as a symbol. It represents the enduring power of the human spirit. It’s a testament to those who dared to resist.